US airlines were more punctual in January than December, but failed to match the performance of 12 months previously, according to the latest Air Travel Consumer Report.
Published by the Department of Transportation (DOT), the statistics indicate that, on average, around 73 percent of the top 20 carriers’ aircraft were on time in the first month of the year.
In addition, fewer bags were mishandled in January than during December, the figures show.
Despite winter storms in several states, just 1.13 percent of flights were delayed by the weather, compared to the 8.34 percent held up by aviation system faults. An additional 7.88 percent were slowed up by late-arriving aircraft, and 6.74 percent by maintenance or crew issues.
The DOT received 752 complaints regarding airlines in January. This is fewer than the 829 filed in January 2006, but more than the 604 posted in December.
Hawaiian Airlines was again named the most reliable carrier in the monthly review, with 92 percent of its flights on time. It also boasted the fewest cancellations – 11 of its 4,622 flights – and the third-best baggage-handling performance in January.
“The consistency of excellence by our employees is the reason that Hawaiian has now been America’s on-time champion for 37 of the past 39 months,” said Mark Dunkerley, President and Chief Executive of Hawaiian Airlines.
Four of the five leading domestic airlines flew more than three-quarters full in January, according to the figures.
© Adfero Ltd
